On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
weighed and considered the con as well as the pro oi every subject , to which I attach importance . I , as well as yourself , was educated in the opinions you maintain ; it was not until after all the objections to the doctrine of the restitution of all things had been fully answered , that ; I could receive it : and , since then , I have
carefully read every work of $ ny character that has been put forth by those who insist upon the endless duration of future punishment . But I do not understand you to be desirous of hearing what I nave to say , and as you c&n be Comfortable with your present
views , I have not any intention to obtrude mine upon you . / could not exist a moment in peace under a doubt of the infinite goodness of the Creator * for , were I to suppose it possible , either that he wanted the will , or was deficient in the power to render his creatures , without a
single exception , happy , I could not love him with all my heart and with all my mind , nor my neighbour as myself . I should also feel that in praying according to the apostolic precept , for the salvation of all men , I was offering up a petition contrary to the Witt of God ; and , therefore , for
without au ^ ground hoping or expecting that such a prayer would be answered . You say , ' * yo $ r people do nothing to cause their felldw-creatures to incur future punishment , but seek to preserve thein froin It . " I admit this ,
and derive great pleasure from observing how , by his providential dealings , God counteracts the evil tendency of erroneous creeds . It is not , however , in virtue of their system , but in spite of it , that they thus lay themselves out to seek the salvation
of their fellow-creatures . It comports not 'with the policy of the enemy of soiils to ihspire us with &n extreme anxiefy for the welfare of ' others . •» His object is to-render-us careless of our own interests , and consequently indifferent to the fate of the rest of
mankind . While under the influence of feelings such as you deem datigerous , a man imist necessarily be " prone to do all in his power to accelerate the period whew God's kingdom will come and his will be done ia earth as it is in heaven . For my own part , I cannot possibly
Untitled Article
divest iriys ' elf of the feeling that Tarn * part and parcel of human nature , and that my happiness , present and future , is involved in theirs . We are all of one blood , and members one of another . Whatever may be the order in which the several individuals may bear the image of the second head of
the race , if the first-fruits be holy the lump will also-be holy , the whole will be eventually leavened . With respect to times and seasons the knowledge of these is reserved , and we must , not presume to pronounce when they will
arrive ; and , therefore , I leave the subject in the hands of Him who , I am well assured , will do right ; of Him all whose ways are just and true . In this conviction we are both agreed , and there the matter must rest . Yours , I .
Untitled Article
/ to N . Sept . 29 . The feeling * which you consider a _ s indicative of the work of j ^ generacy being begun , is not a new feeling ; it has been contemporaneous with my first serious attention to religious matters . I believe the feeling to be very common . Even Balaam had
something of it when he exclaimed , " Let me aie the death of the righteous . " It is matter of deep humiliation that , with a conviction of the inseparable union of holiness and happiness , those who entertain that conviction should
enjoy so little of spiritual comfort ; and , I do assure you , that I regard myself as scarcely initiated in the school of Christ . I make no pretensions . If ever the time should arrive when a sense of the Divine favour
shall be experienced by me , it will be manifested in appropriate words and works ; with due deference I apply the same observations to other persons . As you fiad the controversy a hindrance to the enjoyment of religious
exercises , you had better not pursue it . If you use arguments drawn from ' Scripture , I shall be induced to answer them , and thus we shall be led on from one step to another . I have no objection to this sort of correspondence , because a firm and un- » shaken confidence ia the truth of the sentiments which I entertain , leaves me at liberty to go fearlessly over
Untitled Article
l $ l A Friendly Correspondence between an Unitarian ' and a Calmnisto
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1824, page 104, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2521/page/40/
-